Watercure USA - August/September 2020

IN THE KNOW FOR for

Aug/Sept 2020

Part 1 of the Tales on S.S. Constitution State When I Served in the U.S. Merchant Marines, I Fought Pirates

I’ve had decades of experience with water treatment, since it was a major part of my work while I served in the U.S. Merchant Marines. However, my experiences with water aren’t only informed by the threats in the water. I also dealt with threats on the water. In the Strait of Malacca in 1969, the S.S. Constitution State, where I was serving as a third officer in the command station, was boarded by pirates. To give some context of our surroundings, the Strait of Malacca is a narrow body of water between Malaysia and Indonesia. All around us, we could see wreckages of ships that had failed to navigate it properly. There was also plenty of boat traffic that constrained our movement. You can imagine that these navigation challenges kept me extremely busy while giving orders at the ship helm. While I was heavily occupied with my duties, I happened to notice some smaller boats approaching the ship from behind. They suddenly got close enough to put up ladders and long poles to begin boarding our ship, which is an illegal act on the high seas. I had called the captain several times so he could come to the bridge of the ship and take command. However, I never got through to him. I called the chief officer, in his mid 60s, and told himwhat was happening, and he told me he’d get the captain as soon as possible. There was more than one kind of pressure riding on the captain’s return. I was in the good company of manyWorldWar II veterans who’d seen quite a bit of combat, but they were all in their 40s and 50s at this time. The pirates were in their 20s and 30s at least and were more agile and athletic. I was very compelled to join the fight as soon as I could. I was 23 years old, and in addition to having been exposed to my fellowMariners’wisdom, I had also been athletic all of my life. I didn’t think about the worst-case scenario too hard, although I had just graduated from Fort Schuyler Maritime College and gotten married that same year. It goes to show that there are a lot of unexpected things that can happen in life, but, with the right knowledge, you can have better opportunities.

It didn’t take long for pirates to make their way to the deck of the ship. When the captain finally came to the bridge of the ship, I knew I had to make each minute count as I rushed to the deck. Then, I saw the chief officer — the one in his 60s who had gotten the captain’s attention— suddenly pressed against the railing by three pirates, ready to throw him overboard. There’s a lot that overcomes you in those moments where you’re about to lose a compatriot. I immediately ran into that fight and physically threw one of the men over the side. The other two tried to run for their lives, but I grabbed one and held him long enough to also work him over the rails. The final one I “greeted”on the other end of the ship, because he ran to where his fellow pirates were. He was hoping there was protection in numbers, but I waded through the worst of the chaos to finally get to him and successfully eliminated him as a threat.

Ultimately, although there were losses and terrible injuries, we definitely won that engagement.

This isn’t to romanticize pirates or the experience of fighting them. Two days later, the captain of the ship committed suicide by shooting himself in the head with a .38-caliber revolver. One of the most important things I’ve learned frommy sea experience is that, no matter howmuch evil there is in the world, the best thing you can do is to continue being a good person. Value all your growth as a person. Those are the lessons I’ve always wished to leave behind. Funnily enough, though, it completely surprised me when my son, Drew, published my memoir. So, if you’d like to read the rest of this story and more, pick up“Turbulent Seas: My Life in the American Merchant Marine,”which you can find on Lulu.com . I’ll be sharing the full fate of the crew upon S.S. Constitution State in the next edition. Until next time, friends. –Captain Lance

www.WatercureUSA.com

1

3 WAYS TO SAVE ON TRENDY BACK-TO-SCHOOL BUYS

SHOP ONLINE LIKE A PRO

Shopping online is tricky in the best of times, but it’s doubly trying when your kids’ opinions are involved. If back-to-school shopping is challenging in your house, try these tricks to hunt down the backpack, pencil bag, and lunchbox the kiddos are begging for without going over budget.

saving browser extension or app like Honey, which automatically checks for coupon codes and offers price comparisons. Other apps, like Flipp, let you view deals from dozens of stores in one place. Remember to see if your favorite store has its own app, too — downloading it could grant you access to exclusive deals. 3. DON’T FORGET TO FACTOR IN SHIPPING. If you shop internationally, shipping can sometimes double the cost of an order. To save money, choose domestic retailers and check each website or app for shipping specials and discounts. Many websites offer free or reduced shipping for first-time customers or orders over a certain dollar amount. If you choose to shop somewhere without such a discount, check the shipping costs and factor them into your budget before you shop to avoid nasty surprises. If your kids are old enough, consider talking them through this process as you shop. Who knows, this could be a great back-to-school lesson in budgeting!

1. OPT FOR SECONDHAND OR REFURBISHED ITEMS.

If your kid is dying to have the same Parkland Kingston Plus backpack that celebrities’ kids were flaunting last year, you might be able to snag one secondhand for half the price. The same goes for the popular PLAE Max shoes or even electronics like iPads. Check out online retailers like JemJem or Gazelle for refurbished electronics, and try the Poshmark app for bags, shoes, and clothes. If you really want to get fancy, visit TheRealReal.com for luxury-brand clothing. 2. ALWAYS CHECK DISCOUNT APPS AND WEBSITES. If you’re not at least Googling “[store name] coupon code” before checking out online, you’re probably missing out on big savings. Visit popular coupon websites like RetailMeNot and Groupon, or streamline your search by downloading a money-

Want Beautiful Skin and Hair?

SOFT WATER IS THE PLACE TO START

We don’t think about all of the ways that water impacts our lives until we see the benefits of soft, clean water. And we really do mean seeing the benefits. The quality of your tap water actually has a lot to do with the health of your skin and hair. What is hard water, exactly? Hard water has a high amount of minerals (like calcium and magnesium). Are these inherently bad? No. However, this happens as the water comes into contact with soil or rocks, and without proper filtration, these impurities make cleaning your home and yourself more difficult. From bathing to laundry, hard water carries too much to act as a solvent for your soap to clean effectively — and can even counteract the active ingredients in your cleaners.

and leaves a residue that can make it feel dry and itchy. If you still struggle with acne or dull-looking skin and hair (despite washing regularly), hard water might be the culprit. Because soft water doesn’t have the excess calcium and magnesium that hard water does, it hydrates and cleans your skin and hair far more effectively than hard water. Soft water can even be beneficial to people with eczema. When your skin becomes dry, increased oil production will try to make up for it, but these oils can lead to acne. Soft water won’t strip away your natural oils; instead, it keeps your skin hydrated, which leads to clearer skin and fewer breakouts. Soft water can also make a big difference for your hair. Shampoo isn’t as effective with hard water since it doesn’t lather or rinse out quite as well. Without soft water, shampoo buildup can leave your hair dull-looking and more difficult

to style. Dyed hair can fade faster, too. But with soft water, your hydrating and color-preserving products will work even more effectively without drying your scalp or leaving behind unwanted buildup. We’ve helped hundreds of families that felt tremendous relief in their skin and hair struggles after using our water filtration services. If you or a loved one struggles with eczema or dry hair, just give us a call and see what clean water can do for you. The WatercureUSA family is here to help!

Because of its impurities, hard water can also irritate the skin as it strips it of its natural oils

2

DREW: 716-946-3598

LANCE: 716-912-9939

WEEKNIGHT CURRIED APPLE PORK CHOPS

Client Highlights FAMILIES ARE FINDING THEIR HAPPILY EVER WATER WITH WATERCUREUSA!

If you’ve never had apples in a savory dish, this is a great way to try it! Perfect for a lazy weeknight, this easy paleo dish will make your kitchen smell heavenly. You can even watch a sitcom episode while it cooks.

Inspired by The Primal Desire

Ingredients

•

2 tbsp coconut oil or ghee 1 cup onion, diced 1 tbsp garlic, crushed 1 tsp ginger, finely chopped

•

2 tbsp hot curry powder

• • •

•

3 cups diced apples (peeled or not, your choice!)

• •

6 pork chops

• •

1 tsp salt

Cilantro, roughly chopped

1/2 cup water or apple juice

High-quality water improves so many aspects of our clients’ lives. As a family-owned business, we couldn’t be prouder of the homes we serve and the great feedback we get. We’d like to take this moment to thank you so much for your tremendous support for WatercureUSA over the past few years. Here are some of the amazing Google reviews we’ve gotten in recent weeks. “Drew and his family took great care of ours! The new water system they installed works great and is easy to maintain. Most importantly, my family now has pure, clean drinking water from any faucet in the house. The price was surprisingly reasonable, and their response time is well above average. After our water treatment systemwas installed, I had a few follow-up questions, so I picked up the phone and called. On that one call, I got all the answers I needed. If you’re looking for a lifetime water solution, I recommend Drew and his team. You

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 F. 2. In a large pan over medium heat, melt coconut oil or ghee. 3. Add onions, garlic, ginger, and salt. Sauté for 10 minutes or until onions are soft and mixture is fragrant. 4. Mix in water or apple juice and curry powder. Then add apples, ensuring they get coated in sauce. 5. In an oven-safe dish, arrange pork chops, cover with sauce and apple mixture, and cook for 20 minutes (if using bone-in chops, cook for an additional 10 minutes) or until the meat reaches an internal temperature of 145 F. 6. Garnish with cilantro. Enjoy!

won’t be disappointed.” –Wendy W.

“Professional and curious owners and salespeople make the icing on the cake. My system was installed more than a year ago and a dramatic increase in the water quality was noticed immediately. Many times, after a while, the quality or flow of water will lag given a little time. No such issues. Flawless provision of perfect water. Well worth the money.” –Reuben K. “WatercureUSA is a fantastic company. Honest, friendly, and professional. Drew is very knowledgeable, and his employees always do great work when planning and performing annual maintenance/filter replacements. We love our RO

system and soft water!” –Thomas R.

From everyone at WatercureUSA, thank you so much for taking the time to support us online! Call us anytime you have a question or concern —we can’t wait to hear from you.

www.WatercureUSA.com

3

318 Center Street Lockport, NY 14094

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

Follow us on

INSIDE This Issue

1

When I Served in the U.S. Merchant Marines, I Fought Pirates

2

Shop Online for Your Kids Like a Pro Want Beautiful Skin and Hair? Soft Water Is the Place to Start See What New York Families Are Saying About Us! Weeknight Curried Apple Pork Chops

3

4

3 Fun Family Activities for Fall

Gardening, Gold, and Photo Shoots

3 FUN FAMILY ACTIVITIES FOR FALL It’s fall, which means social media will soon be saturated with pictures of your friends enjoying “classic” fall activities. Photos of leaf peeping, apple picking, and the occasional scarecrow run rampant. But rather than following the PAN FOR GOLD. Here’s one that’s really off the beaten path: Take your family

on an adventure panning for gold! Start by planning a road trip out to an old ghost town. Many of them have great tourist attractions that include gold panning. You probably won’t get rich, but it

herd, you can make your family the trendsetter of unique fall activities! Here are a few outdoor endeavors your family will love. GET GARDENING. Fall is the time for harvest, but if you want to enjoy flowers in the spring, it’s also a time for planting. The cooler autumn air is easier on plants, but the soil is still warm enough for roots to grow before the ground freezes for winter. Tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths are all spring bulbs that need to be planted in the fall. Do a little research with your family to determine the best time to start planting in your area.

provide a beautiful background for any family portrait. Better yet, the cooler temperatures mean that an outdoor photo shoot won’t be nearly as uncomfortable as it would be in the summer. You can take your pictures by the trees in the front yard or make a daytrip of it. What about pictures at the corn maze or pumpkin patch? It’s never too soon to start planning this year’s holiday card.

will still be a fun story. If you’re not able to make the trip, you can always create a gold panning operation at home! Visit MessForLess.net/ panning-for-gold-activity for a great step-by- step guide on how to go panning for gold in your own backyard. PLAN A FALL PHOTO SHOOT. It’s time to freshen up those family pictures hanging around the house. The changing leaves

Spend this fall outdoors and create great new memories with your family!

4

DREW: 716-946-3598

LANCE: 716-912-9939